RESPONSIBLE DOG BREEDING GUIDELINES - European Commission
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RESPONSIBLE DOG BREEDING GUIDELINES
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RESPONSIBLE DOG BREEDING GUIDELINES
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About dogs
The domestic dog (Canis familiaris) has a close and ancient history with humans; together dogs and
humans have co-evolved; they can communicate and cooperate with one another and they are able to
understand each other’s intentions and they are sensitive to their different emotions. The dog’s ability
to form close social bonds with people has meant they have become one of the most popular companion
animals in human households.
Dogs are highly social (with other dogs and people), intelligent, playful and agile; they are often more
active in the morning and evening, whilst spending large parts of the day resting. Their behaviour and
appearance have been shaped by humans through selective breeding.
Dogs have a complex and flexible social life – they can live in multi-sex groups of related and unrelated
individuals provided resources allow; they cooperate to defend territories but not to rear young and they
form social hierarchies with other dogs.
Free-roaming dogs predominantly scavenge and acquire food from human sources, rather than hunting.
Dogs communicate using visual (body postures and facial expressions) and chemical signals
(transmitted through urine, faeces, and ground-scratching); they have a wide range of calls and sounds
that provide information on their emotional state. These modes of communication help to moderate their
social interactions with other dogs and with people.
(Miklosi 2009; see Serpell 2017)
These guidelines should be read in conjunction with:
Supplementary Guidance for Responsible Breeders: Early Socialisation and Habituation of Puppies (to
follow)
Guidelines on Commercial Movement of Cats and Dogs (https://ec.europa.eu/food/animals/welfare/eu-
platform-animal-welfare/platform_conclusions_en)
Guidelines for Online Platforms Selling Dogs (https://ec.europa.eu/food/animals/welfare/eu-platform-
animal-welfare/platform_conclusions_en)
Acknowledgements:
Animal and Plant Health Unit, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Finland
Animal Health and Welfare Department, National Food Chain Safety Office of Hungary
Animal Health and Welfare Division, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Ireland
Animal Welfare Department, Environment Brussels, Belgium
Animal Welfare Inspector, Transport, Flanders, Belgium
Animal Welfare Office, Ministry for Agriculture and Food of France
Animal Welfare Unit, Federal Ministry for Food and Agriculture, Germany
Animal Welfare Unit, General Direction of Food and Veterinary, Ministry of Agriculture, Portugal
Animal Welfare Unit, Government of Flanders, Belgium
Animal Welfare Unit, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of Spain
Animal Welfare Unit, Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, Netherlands
Animal Welfare Unit, Public Service of Wallonia, Belgium
Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy
Eurogroup for Animals
Ministry of Health-Izsm, Italy
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA)
State Veterinary and Food Administration of the Slovak Republic
The Animal Health and Animal Welfare and Veterinary Medicine Units, The Danish Veterinary and Food
Administration, Denmark
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The Federation of Veterinarians of Europe
VIER PFOTEN / FOUR PAWS - European Policy Office
European Society of Veterinary Clinical Ethology (ESVCE)
National Animal Welfare Inspection Service, The Netherlands
Dr Candace Croney- Purdue University
Uri Baqueiro Espinosa- Queen's University Belfast
Tori McEvoy- Queen's University Belfast
Nicole Pfaller- Queen's University Belfast
Mike Jessop
Dr Elly Hiby
Dr Louisa Tasker
Iwona Mertin
Suggested review of the guidelines:
To keep pace with the evidence-base that underpins best practice for responsible breeding and care of puppies
and dogs, the content of these guidelines should be reviewed in 3 years (2023) or earlier if necessary.
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CONTENTS
Definitions and terms used in these guidelines
1. Introduction
2. Principles of responsible breeding
3. Selection of parents
3.1 General considerations
3.2 Behavioural traits
3.3 Inherited disorders
3.4 General health requirements
4. Competent human carers
5. Requirements for good animal welfare: Good feeding, good housing, good
health and appropriate behaviour
5.1 Good feeding
- General
- Adult dogs
- Pregnant and lactating bitches
- Puppies
5.2 Good housing
- Light
- Noise
- Ventilation
- Temperature
- Accommodation
5.3 Good health
- Handling
- Inspection of dogs and puppies
- Surgical mutilations
- Veterinary care
- Euthanasia
- Cleaning and hygiene
- Isolation facilities
- Emergency planning
5.4 Appropriate behaviour
- Meet dogs’ environmental needs
- Social interaction with other dogs
- Pregnancy and whelping
- Early experience - habituation and socialisation
6. End of breeding life
7. Record keeping
8. Protecting the future welfare of puppies and their new owners
9. Registration, licensing, and enforcement
REFERENCES
ANNEX 1
APPENDIX
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Definitions and terms used in these guidelines
Accommodation The dog’s housing, where it spends most of its time.
Animal Welfare The physical and mental state of an animal in relation to the conditions
in which it lives and dies (OIE 2019).
Best Practice Evidence-based practices that demonstrate optimised animal welfare.
Bitch An entire (intact) female dog used for breeding. Pedigree bitches are
likely to be registered with the governing Kennel Club.
Breeding Refers to either planned or unplanned breeding (mating and production
of offspring), of pedigree and non-pedigree dogs.
Dog Canis familiaris. Domesticated member of the family Canidae (order
Carnivora).
Coefficient of A measure of the degree of inbreeding – how closely related the parents
Inbreeding are.
Compassion Described as ‘the emotion a person experiences when they feel
concern for another’s suffering coupled with a desire to alleviate
their suffering and enhance their welfare’ (Goetz et al 2010).
Competent Defined as ‘having the necessary ability, knowledge and skill to do
something successfully’ (Oxford Dictionary of English 2003).
Competent Authority The central authority of a member state competent to carry out controls
on breeding or any authority to which it has delegated that competence.
Conformation/ Extreme The shape and structure of the body. Extremes of conformation, defined
conformation ‘as when an animal’s body shape, structure, or appearance has the
potential to result in negative impacts on their health and welfare’
(British Veterinary Association 2018, p1).
Domestic Home A household where both the dog and its’ owner/keeper live.
Environment
Duty of Care A moral or legal obligation to ensure the safety and well-being of others
(people or animals).
Dystocia Difficulty giving birth.
Good Practice Practices that ensure compliance with requirements of legislation or
regulations designed to protect the animals’ welfare.
Hybrid The offspring of two different species or sub-species (e.g. a wolf-dog is
a hybrid generated by the interbreeding of a domestic dog and a wild
canid).
Inbreeding Breeding from closely related dogs such as brother and sister, mother
and son or father and daughter, grandfather, and granddaughter.
Lactation Milk production from the mammary glands.
Non-pedigree dog A dog or puppy of no specific breed.
Pedigree dog A dog or puppy bred specifically to exhibit particular physical
characteristics, often whose parents are specific breeds and whose
ancestry is documented in a ‘pedigree’ document, registered with a
recognised club/society.
Pica Broadly characterised as chewing, sucking or ingesting non-nutritive
items.
Popular Sire Effect Refers to the widespread use of a particular male to sire many litters
leading to reduced genetic diversity in a breed and increasing the
probability of deleterious inherited disorders (Farrell et al 2015).
Quality of Life Simply defined as ‘an individual’s satisfaction with its welfare’
(Belshaw 2017, p9). Defined operationally as ‘an individual’s
satisfaction with its physical and psychological health, its physical
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and social environment and its ability to interact with that
environment’ (Belshaw et al 2015, p204).
Retired Breeding Dog A dog that is no longer used for breeding.
Stud Dog An entire (intact) male dog retained for breeding. Pedigree studs are
likely to be registered with the governing Kennel Club.
Third Party A party who has not bred the puppy but sells or transfers the puppy.
Veterinarian A veterinarian that is suitably qualified and licensed to practice medicine
and surgery registered by a competent authority.
Whelping The process of giving birth.
Whelping Area/Box Place provided for the bitch to give birth.
1. Introduction
Poor breeding practices have profoundly detrimental effects on dog welfare and on the well-being of
owners (Croney 2019). The consequences of poor breeding practices may lead to a lifetime of suffering,
through poor health and poor suitability as pets, resulting in an untimely death, abandonment or
relinquishment. Breeders, legislators, competent authorities, veterinarians, and owners have an ethical
responsibility to work together to ensure dogs live a good life.
Dogs and puppies have the same need for a good quality of life regardless of breeding context and all
breeders 1 are required to act responsibly and with compassion to meet those needs. These guidelines
are intended to support the enforcement of responsible breeding and good animal welfare practices by
competent authorities. Where national legislation in a country sets higher criteria than those outlined in
these guidelines, the national legislation should take precedence.
Research into animal welfare and breed-specific predispositions to disease that inform responsible
breeding practices are ongoing; breeders and competent authorities should follow current best practices
where these exceed the guidelines. This requires both breeders and competent authorities to regularly
update their knowledge of dog welfare.
Animal welfare is a state within the animal that ranges from poor-through-to-good (Broom 1996). For
example, poor welfare arises when a dog is sick, injured, or unable to express natural behaviours it is
highly motivated to perform; it is associated with negative emotions such as fear, distress, frustration,
or boredom. Good welfare results when dogs’ experience positive physical and mental states (Green &
Mellor 2011; Mellor 2016), they are thriving – they are physically healthy, and living in a complex
environment where they have choice over what they do and when they do things; they feel comfortable
and secure; they have access to all necessary resources. Dogs experience a good quality of life when
they are thriving.
Breeders have a duty of care, to keep all dogs in a state of good welfare, to ensure puppies have a
good start in life – they are functionally fit, healthy and socialised – they fulfil their potential to live a
good quality of life in their new homes. Breeders are obliged to find responsible homes for puppies they
have bred; ensuring new owners are a good match and understand their lifelong duty of care to their
new dog.
1
Regardless of whether breeding is planned or accidental, dogs and puppies should be cared for in the same way to protect
and promote their welfare. The guidelines apply whether puppies are sold or transferred without a fee to a new owner.
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2. Principles of responsible breeding
A responsible dog breeder (adapted from RSPCA Australia 2018):
Respects the intrinsic value of dogs
● Demonstrates a genuine concern for the welfare of dogs and their future generations. Avoids
breeding from banned breeds and their hybrids, animals that are closely related, or with
inherited disorders, or exaggerated features that compromise welfare. Avoids breeding dogs
with temperaments that may produce puppies that will be unsuitable pets (e.g. overly reactive,
fearful or aggressive towards people or other animals).
Seeks information on the breed at population level and guidance on how to maintain genetic
variance of a population
● Demonstrates an understanding of the detrimental effects to the health of future puppies (and
population) through inbreeding and avoids the over-use of popular sires and their relatives.
Plans breeding and conscientiously matches puppies with new owners who will be responsible
and understand their duty of care towards their dog
● Ensures they can find compatible and suitable homes with responsible owners before breeding.
Optimises dog welfare by providing high standards of housing, husbandry and care that meet
the physical and behavioural needs of individual dogs and puppies
● Houses and cares for all dogs and puppies in a way that protects and promotes their welfare,
and ensures they experience a good quality of life.
● Ensures that the early experiences of puppies are positive and extensive and shapes their
development to be suitable as pets.
● Takes responsibility for the lifetime care and welfare of dogs they no longer breed from. Ensures
they are not used for breeding after they are retired, and they are listed as non-breeding, on
the relevant Kennel Club register. Provides life-long care or finds them suitable new homes for
their retirement.
Demonstrates competency, knowledge of, and a genuine concern for the welfare of the dogs
and puppies under their care.
● Through their continued learning, knowledge and actions ensure the highest standards of care
are provided for their dogs and puppies.
Must not sell puppies that they have not bred and reared on their premises and must not sell or
transfer puppies to third parties
● Recognises the vulnerability of puppies and does not sell or transfer puppies before they are 8
weeks old.
● Does not act as a third party or use a third party for sale or transfer of puppies because it is
detrimental to puppy welfare.
● Puppies via a third party are more likely to experience poorer welfare conditions such as early
separation from the bitch, additional journeys, and exposure to new environments, which
increases the risk of development of behaviour problems (McMillan 2017) and disease.
Is open and transparent
● Keeps accurate records and can provide a complete lifetime history of the dog or puppy under
their care.
● Shares the results of clinical examinations and genetic tests of parents.
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Provides the new owner with information and support to help them meet the needs of puppies
and dogs to live a good life
● Ensures the new owner is compatible with the individual animal and knowledgeable about the
welfare needs of their new pet and breed specific requirements.
● Provides up-to-date appropriate information and support to the new owner (even after sale) to
help promote the puppies’ and dogs’ quality of life.
Provides a warranty
● Accepts a returned or unwanted animal within a specified time period, for reasons including
problems with health, behaviour, compatibility or inability of the owner to provide suitable care.
● Proactively helps to find a more suitable new home for the returned dog.
● Compensates the new owner for any reasonable veterinary costs associated with treatment of
a congenital disorder suffered as a result of a breach of the warranty 2 (see page 25).
● Protects the statutory rights of the new owner; whether the animal was sold or given away for
free.
● When applicable - registers dogs and puppies sold or transferred without a fee as pedigrees
according to the requirements and codes of practice of governing breed associations and
provides new owners with accurate and official breed certificates.
Complies with relevant local, regional, and national legislation, codes of practice or animal
welfare standards including any registration and licensing requirements
● Demonstrates compliance with all local, regional and national legislation, and their associated
animal welfare standards.
● Exceeds the minimum standards by following best practice, even if that practice is not common
in that country.
● Permanently identifies each puppy or dog using a microchip and registering the puppy or dog
in the official or recognised database before transfer to the new owner.
● Ensures they (the breeder) are registered as the first owner of the animal.
3. Selection of parents
3.1 General considerations
● Dogs must not be bred which are from breeds (including their hybrids) that are banned by
national legislation.
● Dogs used for breeding must be health checked by a veterinarian before breeding; they should
be functionally fit, physically healthy (in good body condition and free from obvious signs of
infection) and have good (confident and friendly) temperaments – these phenotypes are
compatible with a good quality of life.
● Breeders are required to know the specific welfare risks of extreme conformations and inherited
disease related to breed or individual (Gough et al 2018). They should avoid breeding dogs for
extremes of physical type and minimise the extent of inbreeding (breeding from closely related
individuals) which has the potential to be detrimental to the dog’s quality of life.
2
The terms of warranty may vary country-to-country and national legislation must be followed.
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● Where an animal produces puppies with an inherited disease, extreme physical conformations
or behavioural characteristics that compromise the puppy’s quality of life, this combination of
parents, and their offspring must be excluded from future breeding.
3.2 Behavioural traits
Dogs’ boldness or shyness/fearfulness is heritable; puppies from bold parents behave more confidently
around humans, these personality traits have been used to inform selective breeding in working dogs
(Saetre et al 2006).
● Breeding dogs should be friendly towards people and other animals, comfortable with being
handled and confident living in a home environment, and wider society. Dogs that are fearful or
aggressive towards people and other animals should be excluded from breeding.
3.3 Inherited disorders
Avoid inbreeding: Breeding from closely related dogs such as brother and sister, mother and son or
father and daughter, grandfather and granddaughter, uncle and niece, predisposes puppies to genetic
or birth defects. The degree of inbreeding within a breed should be carefully monitored.
● Inbreeding Coefficient. Selective breeding of individuals should not be undertaken without
understanding the genetic similarity between two parents over the greatest number of
generations (e.g. at least 10; Dog Breeding Reform Group 2016). Breeders should avoid
breeding from individual dogs whose combined coefficient of inbreeding is greater than 6.5%
(Dog Breeding Reform Group 2019).
● Popular Sire Effect. The ‘popular sire effect’ reduces genetic diversity of breeds which often
leads to deleterious consequences for many future generations (Gough et al 2018). Breeders
should avoid overusing stud dogs in the breeding population. As a general rule, dogs should
not sire more than 5% of the total puppies, in the specific pedigree population, during a 5-year
period (Gleroy 2015).
Use Genetic Screening: Breeders are required to use all available, validated screening tests relevant
to the breed 3 and in conjunction with veterinary advice, before they choose to breed from a dog (Dog
Breeding Reform Group 2017; 2019). Screening tests will identify ‘carrier’ dogs that are unaffected by
the disease but carry the mutated gene; breeding between two carrier dogs should be avoided (Dog
Breeding Reform Group 2019) to prevent puppies being affected. The results of genetic screening tests
should be provided to prospective new owners of puppies.
Use an Estimated Breeding Value: Many inherited disorders and behavioural traits are influenced by
multiple genes and environmental factors and cannot be adequately controlled through genetic
screening for a single gene test. An Estimated Breeding Value can be used to estimate a dog’s risk of
developing complex inherited conditions and the degree to which they may be affected in the future.
The estimated breeding value should be considered when deciding the suitability of an individual for
breeding. The results of the Estimated Breeding Value should be provided to prospective new owners
of puppies.
Avoid breeding for extremes: Dogs may suffer as a result of extreme conformations (British
Veterinary Association 2018; Dog Breeding Reform Group 2018). For example, Brachycephalism
(being flat-faced; van Hagen 2019) which produces anatomical defects to dogs’ skull affecting the brain,
3
Dog WellNet: Harmonization of Genetic Testing for Dogs: https://dogwellnet.com/ctp/ The Kennel Club: DNA Screening
Schemes and Results: https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/health/for-breeders/dna-screening-schemes-and-results/
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eyes and upper airway, predisposing individuals to life-long neurological and eye-related problems, and
difficulties in breathing, sleeping (sleep apnoea), overheating and regurgitation.
● Dogs with extreme conformation 4 (or those who have had corrective surgery) must not be bred
from (or presented in breeding exhibitions); the corrective surgery should be noted in the
relevant health information alongside their microchip registration, and where appropriate health
passport.
3.4 General health requirements
● Both bitch and stud dog must receive prophylactic health care under the direction of a
veterinarian, including regular vaccinations, thorough clinical examination, and treatment for
internal and external parasites. The timing of treatments must be under veterinary direction as
some may harm the foetus if given during pregnancy or lactation.
Vaccination
Dogs should be vaccinated by a veterinarian before mating; bitches recently vaccinated before
pregnancy will produce antibodies in colostrum (first milk) which will be passed on to puppies during
nursing, conferring temporary immunity to specific diseases.
The availability of core and non-core vaccines (Table 1; Day et al 2016) for dogs will vary country-to-
country. Veterinarians should follow national guidelines on the vaccination requirements for dogs.
Table 1. Core and non-core vaccines for dogs (Day et al 2016)
Core dog vaccines Non-core dog vaccines 5
Canine parvovirus type 2 (PPV-2) Leptospirosis
Canine distemper virus (CDV) Bordetella bronchiseptica (kennel cough)
Canine adenovirus/infectious hepatitis (CAV types 1 Canine parainfluenza
and 2)
Rabies – in countries where rabies is endemic, when Leishmaniosis
vaccination is mandated for dogs, and if dogs are
travelling to another country.
Canine herpes virus
●
For each dog and puppy, breeders are required to keep an up-to-date vaccination certificate
signed by the veterinarian. Where appropriate, this should be a national health certificate or
European Pet Passport. Homeopathic vaccinations are not an acceptable alternative.
Breeding
● Both parents must be able to mate naturally. Forced matings must not take place.
● Artificial insemination must not be used as a default or to overcome problems due to the inability
of the dogs to mate naturally. It may only be considered under exceptional circumstances, and
to do so requires strict justification:
4
See Dog Breeding Reform Group 2018 Policy Position: Extreme conformation in dogs
5
Non-core vaccines are used to provide protection to individual dogs that may be at risk of disease. This list is not intended to
be exhaustive and will vary according to national veterinary guidance.
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o Where its use can be demonstrated to lead to an improvement in the welfare of
potential offspring by increasing the genetic variability of the breed, thereby reducing
the incidence of harmful genetic mutations.
o Both parents must have a previous history of breeding naturally (e.g. mating and giving
birth without intervention); it must not be used to overcome physical inabilities of the
parents.
o Only manual collection methods can be used to collect semen; electroejaculation
methods are not permitted.
o Surgical artificial insemination is not permitted.
o Semen collection and artificial insemination must only be performed by a suitably
qualified veterinarian, competent and authorised in the practice of the methods.
● Breeding bitches should be good mothers - able to give birth and rear their puppies naturally
(note this information will not be available for first-time mothers). Bitches that have had a
caesarean section must not be bred from again unless a veterinarian certifies that it will not
compromise the welfare of the bitch to do so. Bitches that have had two litters delivered by
caesarean section must not be bred from.
Breeding age
The effects of age interact with other factors such as breed (physical size) and overall health in
determining the reproductive fitness of dogs, and the subsequent welfare of their puppies (Fisher &
Croney in prep). Breeding should be delayed until dogs are physically mature and should not extend
into old-age. Bitches are more likely to experience gestational complications from middle-age; whilst
sperm quality declines with age and changes in health status in stud dogs (Fisher & Croney in prep).
The ages listed below are given as a guide. It is recommended to let the dogs be examined regularly
by a veterinarian, to ensure no objections are found against using the dogs for breeding.
● Bitches and stud dogs must not be used for breeding until they are fully grown (have reached sexual
and skeletal maturity) – this age is breed-specific; some larger breeds mature much later. Bitches
younger than 18 months of age should not be bred.
● Bitches over the age of 7 years should not be bred unless examined by a veterinarian and when
the veterinarian found no objections against further breeding with the bitch. Veterinary advice
must be sought before breeding bitches from larger breeds if they are 6 years of age or older.
Breeders should avoid breeding bitches for the first time if they are aged 6 years or older.
Bitches must not have a litter within 12 months of the previous litter and must not give birth to
more than 4 litters in her lifetime.
● Stud dogs over the age of 7 years should be examined by a veterinarian to see whether the
veterinarian has no objections against further using the stud dogs for breeding. Veterinary
advice must be sought before breeding stud dogs from larger breeds if they are 6 years of age
or older.
Mating
● Introductions between the bitch and stud dog must be carefully planned and closely monitored
to ensure both are protected from injury or disease. Animals that are incompatible (due to
physical size or behaviour) must not be mated. Mating that results in large puppies or large
litter sizes may increase the risk of dystocia.
● Mating pairs should be physically separated from other animals. Consideration must be given
to the impact a bitch in oestrus may have on other dogs. Facilities must be available to securely
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separate (including from visual, auditory and where possible olfactory cues) male dogs from
bitches in oestrus, to avoid frustration.
● Following mating, breeders are required to carefully check both dogs for signs of injury.
Veterinary advice should be sought and followed if necessary.
4 Competent human carers
The welfare of breeding dogs and puppies is dependent upon the environment and care provided by
humans.
● Breeders are required to demonstrate evidence of competency (relevant to dog breeding) (to
the competent authority) in the following areas:
o Dog welfare – recognise the signs of poor and good welfare, and be able to take
appropriate measures to prevent, reduce and mitigate suffering and promote animal
welfare.
o Disease control.
o Up-to-date understanding of breed-related disorders (when appropriate).
o Recognition and first aid treatment of sick animals.
o Dog behaviour, early development, and socialisation.
o Welfare-centred dog handling and training.
o Environmental enrichment.
o Cleanliness and hygiene.
o Feeding and food preparation.
● There must be enough competent adult human carers available during the day (and where
necessary night) to care for dogs and puppies according to the criteria in these guidelines
(Section 5). For example, recently proposed amendments to Animal Welfare Legislation in
Germany requires breeders to dedicate 4h/day to care for puppies (including time for
socialisation) 6 to ensure their welfare is protected and they go on to develop into well-adjusted
pet dogs. As a guide, breeders should have at least 1 full time, suitably competent individual
available during normal working hours, 7 days a week per 10 adult dogs kept, ideally that ratio
should be lowered to 1:5 (staff:dog); the effectiveness of care staff-to-animal ratio should be
clearly demonstrated in the delivery of animal care outlined in the guidance and should take
into account the additional time required for adequate early habituation and socialisation of
puppies when litters are present.
● Where breeders are licensed to care for higher numbers of dogs and puppies, they should
undertake a recognised dog-appropriate animal care qualification (if available in country). They
should also undertake regular continuing professional development training, including the use
of online courses and literature to keep up-to-date with good animal care practices. Breeders
must be required to demonstrate what training has been undertaken and how often it is
completed.
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Referentenentwurf BMEL 2019 Verordnung zur Änderung tierschutzrechtlicher Vorschriften
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5. Requirements for good animal welfare: Good feeding, good housing, good
health, and appropriate behaviour
In this section of the guidelines, good animal welfare is considered in terms of four welfare principles
(e.g. Welfare Quality): good feeding, good housing, good health, and appropriate behaviour,
which reflect the animal’s underlying welfare needs. Each principle has suggested criteria 7 that
breeders are required to meet to provide for the welfare needs of dogs and puppies. The welfare of
dogs and puppies can be monitored to evaluate whether they are being kept in a state of good welfare.
Table 2. Animal welfare principles, their criteria and suggested welfare indicators
Animal Criteria required to meet the When welfare needs are Monitoring dogs and
welfare welfare need of dogs and met puppies
principles puppies
Good feeding Dogs and puppies are Dogs and puppies are in Regularly monitor food
(page 11) properly fed and supplied ideal body condition and and water intake, body
with water to avoid prolonged hydrated. weight and body
hunger and thirst to meet condition 8.
their need for a suitable diet.
Good Dogs and puppies are housed Dogs and puppies display Regularly monitor the
housing in an environment that natural locomotive health, behaviour and
(page 13) provides them with freedom behaviours and varied activity of dogs and
of movement, physical daily activity patterns; they puppies.
comfort and choice over are comfortable and
access to resources without relaxed when resting and
fear, risk of injury and illness sleeping, they are not too
to meet their need for a hot or too cold; they are
suitable environment. physically healthy.
Good health Dogs and puppies are cared Dogs and puppies are free Regularly monitor the
(page 15) for in such a way as to keep from physical injuries, health of dogs and
them in a state of good disease and pain. puppies and their
physical health, they are Dogs and puppies are not behaviour towards their
treated well in all fearful of their caretakers. caretakers.
circumstances by their care-
takers to meet their need to
be protected from pain,
suffering, injury and disease.
Appropriate Dogs and puppies are The behaviour of dogs and Regularly monitor the
behaviour provided with a complex and puppies indicates an behaviour and activity of
(page 18) stimulating environment, optimised emotional state. dogs and puppies,
company of their own kind Dogs and puppies display including their
and opportunities for positive natural and varied activity interactions with people.
human-animal interactions, patterns, they are
that supports normal comfortable and confident
behavioural development to in their surroundings, they
meet their need to perform positively respond to
appropriate behaviour. human and animal
interactions and they have
choice over what and
when they do things
without fear or stress.
7
Adapted from Welfare Quality ® Principles and Criteria of Good Animal Welfare.
8
Body condition scoring guide: https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Body-Condition-Score-Dog.pdf
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5.1 Good feeding
Breeders are required to:
[General]
● Feed dogs a high-quality complete diet appropriate to their individual needs (e.g. breed,
activity levels, age and health or condition).
o Veterinarians or appropriately qualified and experienced animal nutritionists can provide
advice on suitable diets for pregnant and lactating bitches, and puppies.
● Give ad-libitum access to water, that is refreshed daily.
● Keep food and water fresh and uncontaminated.
o Store food in a hygienic location and in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions
in cool and dry places; and including refrigeration, where required.
o Raw food should be used with caution and only where biosecurity methods are strictly
followed, including safe storage and separate preparation areas, with hot and cold
running water.
o Store and present food away from the risk of vermin.
o Prepare food in a hygienic location.
o Remove uneaten wet food by the time of next feeding and replace uneaten dried food
every 24 hours.
● Introduce new foods gradually, following veterinary or the food manufacturers advice,
to allow dogs to adjust.
● Offer food and water in different receptacles (that are non-porous), one food and one
water bowl for each dog; site food bowls to avoid food aggression between dogs.
o Provide bitches with food and water that is separate to her puppies.
● Monitor food and water intake each day.
o Seek veterinary advice if adult dogs do not eat for 24 hours or they do not drink, or they
drink excessively, or they display pica. Veterinary advice is required sooner if there are
specific concerns.
o Ensure dogs that display significant unexplained weight loss or weight gain, or condition
are examined by a veterinarian and treated as necessary.
● Regularly monitor body weight and body condition to ensure dogs are receiving the
correct nutrition.
[Adult dogs]
● Feed adult dogs at least twice during the day, as appropriate to the needs of the
individual unless instructed differently by a veterinarian.
[Pregnant and lactating bitches]
Pregnancy and lactation place increased energetic and nutritional demands on bitches.
● Feed bitches a high-quality diet that is appropriate to stage of pregnancy and lactation,
and body condition.
o Ad-libitum feeding with food formulated for puppies, until the puppies are weaned, should
provide good nutrition for the bitch. However, care must be taken not to over feed bitches,
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as being overweight or obese may predispose them to birthing difficulties. Following
weaning, the feeding level required will depend upon the bitch’s body condition.
[Puppies]
Maternal milk provides all the nutrients for puppies in the first three weeks of life. Colostrum
(the first milk) contains antibodies that confers temporary immunity against some infectious
disease to puppies.
● Regularly monitor puppies to ensure they are getting enough milk and feeding well, and
they are steadily gaining weight.
o Quietly observe the bitch nursing her puppies to ensure they are feeding.
o Weigh puppies shortly after birth (provided the bitch is content for puppies to be
handled), and then daily for the first two weeks of life; puppies can subsequently be
weighed weekly until homing or up to 6 months of age. Body weights should be
recorded.
o Promptly seek veterinary advice if puppies do not feed properly or do not gain weight;
their condition can deteriorate much faster than adult dogs.
● Provide supplementary feeding to puppies until weaning is completed, if the bitch is
unhealthy or she is unable to feed them.
o Use a milk formula and bottles specifically designed for puppies.
o Seek veterinary advice and/or follow the manufacturers guidelines about quantity,
frequency and temperature of the milk feed, and good hygiene practices.
o Sterilise and dry bottles and teats after each use to prevent infection.
Weaning is a gradual process whereby puppies are introduced to a solid diet and their
dependence on the milk from the bitch gradually reduces.
● Have a plan for weaning puppies and keep a record of transitional feeding, showing the
day-by-day ratio of weaning onto a solid food.
o Gradually introduce and transition puppies to solid food. Weaning must not start before
the puppy is capable of ingesting feed on its own, and not before 3 – 4 weeks of age;
weaning is generally completed when the puppy reaches 6 – 8 weeks of age. Weaning
must not be completed in less than 7 days.
o Provide a good quality puppy food, specifically formulated for weaning, and follow the
manufacturer’s instructions on quantity and frequency of feeding. Raw food must not be
used for weaning puppies. As a minimum, puppies under 8 weeks of age must be fed at
least 5 times daily.
o Ensure puppies are eating the correct share of the feed provided, offering food in
separate bowls where possible.
● Offer water from a receptacle that is shallow enough to prevent injury or drowning, but
large enough to hold enough water to allow all puppies to drink at the same time should
they wish to do so.
Ideally:
● Present food and water in different ways to enrich the lives of dogs and puppies (Section
5.4) (Overall & Dyer 2005; Garvey et al 2016).
o Provide suitable edible chews.
o Present food in different ways using puzzle feeders and feeding devices.
o Part of the daily diet can be used for rewarding behaviour during interaction and training
sessions with people
o Provide additional access to fresh drinking water in water fountains.
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5.2 Good housing
Breeders are required to provide the following conditions:
Light
Dogs require sufficient periods of daylight and darkness to follow their natural day/night activity patterns
● Keep dogs under natural lighting conditions
o Natural daylight should be provided. Where additional artificial lighting sources are used,
they must follow a light period equal to natural day length providing at least 10 – 12 hours
of light. Artificial lights must be switched off overnight to provide a period of darkness for a
minimum of 8 hours. White artificial lighting, preferably broad or full spectrum (including
UV), must provide at least 50 lux at the height of the animals (Ruis & van der Bord 2017).
Noise
● Ensure dogs and puppies are not exposed to excessive or continuous noise (including
high-frequency and ultrasound).
o Enclosures must be constructed, designed, and laid out to reduce levels of barking. Dogs
should experience predictable positive-human interaction and enrichment to reduce
frustration in a kennelled environment.
Ventilation
● Ensure dogs and puppies have adequate ventilation to keep the area free of noxious
odours and damp and to reduce the risk of infectious bronchitis (‘kennel cough’).
o Bitches with their puppies must be kept draught free.
Temperature
Dogs are tolerant of a wide range of ambient temperatures. Puppies require higher ambient
temperatures until they can effectively thermoregulate independently.
[General]
● Ensure dogs and puppies have access to a temperature gradient so they can choose
areas that are cooler or warmer depending upon their needs
o Check that dogs and puppies are not too hot or too cold. If dogs or puppies show signs
of heat or cold intolerance, steps must be taken to ensure their welfare is protected.
● Regularly check ambient temperatures to ensure the required temperature ranges are
maintained:
o Temperatures should be recorded daily, using a maximum/minimum thermometer,
placed at the height of the dog, and sited as close as possible to the main resting area.
[Adult dogs]
● Ensure indoor accommodation for adult dogs is kept between 10 – 26oC
o An optimal range lies between 15 - 21oC (van der Leij 2009).
o Brachycephalic dogs and those with extreme coat types require careful management
as they have markedly different thermal-tolerances (Jordan et al 2016).
[Bitches and puppies]
● Ensure the whelping area is kept between 22 – 28oC
o Newborn puppies require a higher ambient temperature for the first 10 days after birth
since they are unable to thermoregulate independently.
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o Take care to ensure the area and puppies do not overheat. Additional heat sources must
be used safely – they must not pose a burn or fire risk to dogs or puppies or their
accommodation. The bitch should be able to move away from the heat source to a cooler
area if she chooses to do so.
Accommodation
The type, quality (what the space includes and whether it facilitates performance of natural behaviour)
and size of space provided to dogs are important for good dog welfare
Type of accommodation
● Ideally, dogs and their puppies should live in their owner’s home so that they are familiar
and comfortable with the domestic home environment and human activities.
o Dogs kept in a home must have free access to more than one room that exceeds the
minimum space allowance for dogs (Annex 1), plus access to an outside area for
exercise. Dogs must not be confined to an indoor cage or kennel unless for short
periods due to ill health under veterinary advice.
● Dogs kept in a kennel environment must have continual access to an enclosure that
includes an indoor sleeping area and an adjoining run or secure outside space that
meets and preferably exceeds the minimum space allowance for dogs (Annex 1).
o The enclosure size must increase in relation to the number and size of dogs housed
within it (Annex 1). Enclosure design must allow dogs to retreat from events they find
alarming at the front of the kennel. Small/shallow enclosures should be avoided as they
do not permit this important coping behaviour, enclosures must be no less than 2m in
any direction.
o Breeders should provide a detailed floor plan which clearly states the layout and
dimensions of animal accommodations.
● Dogs must not be housed in cages that are tiered or stacked on top of one another.
Quality of space
● Provide dogs and puppies with a physical environment that is enriched, complex and
stimulating, so that they can perform natural behaviour.
o Provide each dog with enough space to walk, run, play, turn around, stand, stand erect
on hind legs, wag their tail, lie down fully stretched out without touching another dog or
walls.
o Provide dogs with a large enough physical space to allow sleeping and activity areas to
be separated and accommodate the inclusion of enrichment; the space should be well
designed to avoid competition over resources when dogs are housed in pairs or groups.
Dogs must be able to move away from each other should they wish to do so.
o Dogs must have continual access to clean, dry, draught-free sleeping area with
appropriate comfortable bedding.
o It is more difficult to prepare kennel-only living dogs and puppies to life in a home
environment. Enrichment and socialisation plans should demonstrate how they mitigate
this deficit.
Safety
● Ensure all areas, equipment, furnishings and appliances to which dogs and puppies
have access are safe; they present minimal risks of injury, illness, and escape
o Ensure all housing and exercise areas are constructed from materials that are robust,
safe, durable, impermeable and they are kept in a good state of repair.
o Ensure all internal surfaces are non-toxic to dogs.
o Ensure all surfaces, equipment and furnishings can be disinfected when appropriate.
o Ensure floor surfaces are solid; slatted or wire mesh floors must not be used.
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Ideally:
● Provide dogs with large and complex housing spaces that allows them to choose where
and when they spend their time
o Space should be well-designed from the dog’s perspective and furnished with
additional enrichment (Section 5.4). Dogs should be able to move freely and
comfortably in their environment, without competition from other dogs.
5.3 Good health
Dogs and puppies should be treated well in all circumstances by caretakers who promote good human-
animal relationships with the dog/puppy’s perspective as the focus of their interactions
Breeders are required to:
Handling
● Handle all dogs and puppies with compassion (Brooke 2019) and appropriately (Yin
2011); handling methods must be welfare-centred and must not cause suffering – pain,
injury, fear, or distress or pose an increased disease risk:
o Aversive training methods must never be used with dogs and puppies. 9 Electric shock
collars must not be used. Electric fences must not be used.
o Dogs must be correctly fitted with, and walked using, a suitable flat collar, harness or
head collar. Head collars should not be used on puppies, and only used in adult dogs
in addition to suitable flat collars or harnesses. Slip leads should not be routinely used,
and only when fitted with a ‘stop’ to prevent the lead becoming tight enough to restrict
the dog’s airway.
o People who care for dogs must provide positive, consistent and predictable interactions
with dogs that are appropriate to the needs of the individual.
o Dogs must not be forced to interact with a person, they must have control over
interactions and be able to avoid people should they wish to do so.
● Perform husbandry with the minimum disturbance to dogs and puppies.
Inspection of dogs and puppies
● Observe dogs and puppies regularly throughout the day and as often as necessary to
protect their welfare.
o Observe animals for signs of abnormal behaviour, ill health, injury, pain, or suffering.
Any abnormalities must be addressed, and advice provided by a veterinarian or
certified animal behaviourist must be followed.
o Be familiar with the normal signs of labour/birth 10. Veterinary advice must be sought
promptly if the bitch seems distressed, and whelping is not progressing normally.
Breeders should check that all placentas have been passed.
o Check dogs at the start and end of the working day and frequently during the working
day, at least every 4 hours during the day. Do not leave dogs or puppies alone for more
than 8 hours overnight. Pregnant bitches that are imminently due to whelp, those in
whelp, nursing bitches, and puppies that are not yet weaned must be checked more
frequently. Breeders must find a balance between too much interference vs. not being
9
Methods that apply an unpleasant stimulus to stop or prevent unwanted behaviour (e.g. shouting, physical force). These
methods may cause dogs and puppies pain, fear and anxiety and reduce their welfare.
10
PDSA: Whelping – A guide to your dog giving birth.
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able to identify when the bitch and her puppies are distressed. Video cameras may be
used to remotely observe bitches during whelping.
o Check puppies shortly after birth (if the bitch will allow). Keep a record of the bitch’s
identification (microchip) number and the time of birth of each puppy; record the sex,
weight, colour and identification of each puppy as soon as is practically possible.
Bitches may become protective of puppies at whelping, resulting in aggression. Care
should be taken when approaching and handling and other animals should also be kept
away.
o Closely monitor bitches for signs of eclampsia – the sudden onset of weakness,
tremors, collapse or seizures caused by low calcium levels when they are lactating.
o Check dogs and puppies regularly for ecto- and endo- parasites and keep animals
clean and comfortable. Dogs will require regular grooming (including brushing, nail
clipping, cleaning eyes, ears, nose and teeth).
Surgical mutilations
Surgical mutilations 11, including debarking, tail docking and ear cropping, of dogs and puppies are not
permitted. It is only allowed if it is deemed necessary and certified in writing by a veterinarian for medical
purposes (FECAVA 2004).
Veterinary care
● Ensure dogs and puppies are under the care of a veterinarian 12 and follow an agreed
health plan.
o Register dogs and puppies with a veterinarian and ensure the contact details of the
veterinarian and their out-of-hours provision is known in advance.
o Follow a comprehensive and agreed-upon veterinary health plan, including regular
vaccinations, appropriate treatment for internal and external parasites, and clinical
examinations performed by a veterinarian. The veterinary health plan should take into
account the suitability of the individual for breeding (see pages 8 – 9), and should be
reviewed annually, ideally by an independent veterinarian.
[Adult dogs]
o Dogs must be examined by a veterinarian at least once per year. Ideally, dogs used for
breeding should be examined by a veterinarian more frequently, at least twice per year
and before mating.
o Ensure dogs are routinely vaccinated by a veterinarian and keep a certified, up-to-date
vaccination record that details the core (and non-core) vaccinations that have been
given. Homeopathic vaccinations are not an acceptable alternative.
[Bitches and puppies]
o Treat bitches and puppies for internal and external parasites at an appropriate age and
interval, and with an appropriate as directed by a veterinarian. Veterinary advice must
be carefully followed regarding the type of medication, dosage, route of administration
and intervals between treatments as inappropriate treatment can be harmful to puppies.
Only licensed products should be used.
o Puppies must be examined by a veterinarian before sale or homing or earlier if the bitch
or puppies are showing signs of illness. The health and welfare status of each animal
11
As defined in the national legislation.
12
British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published Manual of canine and feline shelter medicine (Dean et al
2018) which contains useful principles that may be applicable to veterinarians caring for dogs and puppies in breeding
establishments.
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should be certified in writing by a veterinarian before homing, identifying the animal by
microchip number.
o Puppies must be vaccinated by a veterinarian.
o Microchip and register puppies with the breeder’s details before they are homed, as a
permanent form of identification and to support traceability. Microchipping must be
performed by a veterinarian or certified individual, and the transponder must comply with
ISO standards 11784 and 11785. Ideally microchipping should occur before primary
vaccination to ensure accurate identification of the individual.
● Promptly seek and follow veterinary advice if there is any cause for concern over the
animals physical and mental state.
o Treatments must be followed and completed to the specifications given by the
veterinarian.
o Medication must be authorised for the individual dog or puppy by a veterinarian.
o A record of treatment should be kept for each dog or puppy.
● Use medicines responsibly and safely.
o Use medicines in accordance with the instructions of the veterinarian or manufacturer
(where they are not prescribed medicines).
o Store medicines safely and securely, and at the correct temperature.
o Safely dispose of medicines, in accordance with the manufacturer or veterinarian.
Euthanasia
o Only euthanise animals on welfare grounds. as deemed necessary by a
veterinarian.
o Puppies should not be euthanised only because they do not meet a prescribed breed
standard, or because they have a conformational defect that will not affect their welfare,
or where the defect can be corrected without compromising welfare as advised by a
veterinarian.
o It is unacceptable to euthanise dogs and puppies because they cannot be sold. The
owner/breeder should always try to rehome retired breeding dogs and unsold puppies to
competent owners.
o Retired breeding dogs should not be euthanised only because they cannot fulfil their
function as breeding dogs anymore.
● Euthanasia must be performed humanely and only by a veterinarian.
● Keep euthanasia records for each animal including the reason for euthanasia, date
and the name of the veterinarian who performed it.
Cleaning and hygiene
The need to keep dogs and puppies in clean and hygienic environments should be balanced against
the need of dogs to feel secure in their environment. Dogs deposit scent through urine, faeces, and
anal sac secretions, creating a unique scent profile, that helps them feel safe and secure. Over cleaning
(frequent cleaning with disinfectant or strong-smelling products) will remove or mask these important
scents from the dogs’ environment.
● Ensure good hygiene standards are maintained in dog and puppy accommodations.
o Inspect daily dog/puppy accommodations, and any furnishings, bedding, or equipment
within it.
o Keep accommodations and any furnishings, bedding, or equipment clean, dry and
parasite free. Only clean soiled areas and bedding when necessary in the whelping
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accommodation – it is important to maintain the bitch’s scent profile and avoid
unnecessary disturbance.
o Wash, clean and disinfect bedding and toys when needed and on rotation.
o Perform effective daily spot cleaning; urine and faeces must be removed at least twice
daily, and floors dried after cleaning.
o Dogs must be removed from their enclosure whilst it is being ‘wet’ cleaned (e.g. power
hosing) or disinfected.
● Thoroughly clean and disinfect accommodations, and any equipment, whelping boxes,
furnishings, or enrichment items, between different dogs.
● Clean food and drink receptacles daily and disinfect weekly.
● Keep food preparation areas clean and free from dirt and dust.
● Undertake measures that minimise the risks from rodents, insects and other pests.
● Safely use cleaning and disinfection products.
o Use products that are non-toxic to dogs and the environment.
o Avoid using cleaning products containing Benzalkonium Chloride, high concentrations
are toxic to dogs.
o Only give dogs access to cleaned areas once they are fully dry.
o Safely store and dispose of cleaning products away from dogs.
● Facilities must be provided for the proper collection, storage, and disposal of waste.
Special arrangements must be made for handling hazardous waste according to the
legislation in each country.
Isolation facilities
● Ensure appropriate isolation, in self-contained facilities are available for the care of sick,
injured or potentially infectious animals (including quarantining new, incoming animals).
o Short-term isolation facilities may be provided offsite by an attending veterinary
practice, for very sick animals (the veterinary practice must be able to provide 24-hour
veterinary care).
o Site isolation facilities at least 5m away from other dogs to reduce the risk of airborne
infection being carried between isolated and healthy dogs.
o Ensure housing and care requirements outlined elsewhere in the guidance are followed
for dogs and puppies in isolation to protect their welfare.
o Ensure separate feed and water receptacles, bedding, cleaning utensils and cleaning
products are used for animals in isolation.
o Follow good hygiene and biosecurity practices:
▪ When appropriate, use protective clothing and equipment for use only in the
isolation facility.
▪ Have a separate caretaker for isolated dogs or care for dogs in isolation after
all other dogs have been attended to.
▪ Wash hands and use an appropriate disinfectant after leaving isolation and
before handling other dogs.
▪ Completely clean and disinfect isolation and equipment once it is vacated.
● Plan an appropriate quarantine when introducing new dogs. Veterinary advice should
be sought on quarantine plans.
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Endorsed by the EU Platform on Animal Welfare 3 November 2020 - DOC/2020/11972 Rev1.You can also read
